Wind farm grid connection works proposed at Carrowkeel Longfield, Kilmass Grange & Rahara, Co. Roscommon

In context

It is one of 2 wind energy applications Roscommon County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 61 nationally. Of the 85 such applications decided by councils in the past three years, 74% were granted.

What happens next

The five-week window for public submissions has closed. The council normally decides within eight weeks of the application being lodged, unless it requests further information, which stops the clock.

The development description, as lodged

Verbatim from the Roscommon County Council register. This is the source for every figure in the story above.

Permission for a 10 year planning permission for the proposed development of a wind farm on a site area of 27.4 hectares in the townlands of Townlands of Carrowkeel, Longfield, Kilmass, Grange, Rahara, Co. Roscommon. The proposed development for which permission is sought will comprise: • Four (4) wind turbines with an overall blade tip height of 184.55 metres (m) to 185m, a rotor diameter of 149.1m to 163m, a hub height of 103.5m to 110m, and associated foundations, hard-standing and assembly areas; • A permanent 38kV on-site electrical substation within a compound area of 1,034m² to consist of: a control building containing welfare facilities, all associated electrical plant and equipment, perimeter security fencing, entrance gates, underground cabling, a wastewater holding tank, a rainwater harvesting tank, parking, lighting and lightning protection mast 18m in height; and all associated infrastructure and services including CCTV and signage; • A permanent Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) within an area of 1,014m² adjacent to the substation, to consist of 32 Battery units, 4 PCS (Power Conversion System) inverters, 2 PCS MV (Medium Voltage) transformers connected to the HV (High Voltage) substation transformer, and perimeter security fencing; • Upgrade of an existing agricultural entrance from the R362 Regional Road for use as a permanent site entrance by all vehicular traffic during construction and operation; • Upgrade of approximately 700m of existing internal agricultural access tracks, to include passing bays for internal site traffic and all associated drainage; • Approximately 2,400m of new internal permanent access tracks, to include passing bays for internal site traffic and all associated drainage; • Re-use of approximately 17,595m³, of excavated peat for landscaping within the site to a maximum height of 0.5m and subsequent re-vegetation; • A temporary site compound within an area of 4,000m², containing temporary site offices, waste storage areas, parking areas and perimeter security fencing; • A meteorological mast with a height of 36m and associated foundation; • Temporary and permanent drainage and sediment control systems; • Felling of approximately 5.5ha of forestry to facilitate construction and operation of the proposed wind farm; • Biodiversity enhancement measures to include replanting of 2.42ha of trees and 1,240m of hedgerows on-site; • All associated underground electrical and communications cabling